The official blog of Historical Fantasy Author, Mary Anne Yarde.
Come and join me on the hunt for everything mythological, as well as historical. Oh, and let's not forget the odd book or two! Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy...

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Sunday, 18 October 2015

Historical fiction....Wells Cathedral.

I have a lot of favourite places. Who doesn't?

Mine tend to be old buildings or historic sights. So for the next few blogs I am going to share with you some of the buildings that have touched my heart and have inspired my writing.
Today, I am going to take you on a little journey to the Medieval City of Wells, in Somerset, England. It is the smallest city in England.

Wells, has a long history that goes right back to the Romans and maybe even before. It has bubbling springs which would have made it an ideal place to settle and this was where the name Wells came from. There are three wells that you can still visit today. One is in the Old Market Place, the other two are within the grounds of The Bishops Palace.

Wells is situated on the southern side of the Mendip Hills. It has a small shopping precinct, that takes on the characteristics of a very pretty town. Watching over a the city is the splendour of the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrews...We call it Wells Cathedral...I guess it is less of a mouthful.

The Cathedral dates back to 1175, although there was an earlier church on the sight as far back as AD 705.

Wells Cathedral

The Cathedral survived Henry Tudors Dissolution of the Monasteries, and the English Civil War (1642-1651). During the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685, the Puritan solders inflicted a great deal of damage to the cathedral. They smashed windows, tore the lead from the roof to make bullets, damaged furniture, and for a time, they also stabled their horses in the nave. But the cathedral survived and was restored.

If you are ever in Wells, check it out. Especially go and look at the newly restored 14th Century, Jesse window which depicts the genealogy of Jesus, dating back to Abraham. Unfortunately I have not got a photograph that does the window justice, so I guess you are just going to have to take a visit and check it out for yourself.

Next time I am going to look at the building next door to the Cathedral. The Bishops Palace.